Improvement in gates



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

BENJIMAN FRANKLIN FISK, OF FREDONIA TOWNSHIP, CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

IM PROVEM ENT IN GATES.v

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 89,301, dated April 27, 1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJInAN FRANKLIN FIsK, of the township of Fredonia, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in -Gates and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a view of the operating parts in perspective, the gate being shut. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the gate being open.

Similarletters of reference indicatelike parts in both figures.

My invention relates to that class of gates pivoted together, the rails of which fold up as seen from inside the lot.

In my improved arrangement for hanging this gate I set two stout gate-posts (seen at A A') irmly in the ground. The post A', against which the gate shuts, is provided with two open side staples, a, to receive the upper and lower rail ends; but to the post A, I connect a hanging frame in the following manner: This hanging frame is composed of two inclined posts, B, as seen, extending upward a sufficient distance above and from the gate, which posts are framed, at top, into the center of a cross-bar, C, extending a proper distance on both sides at a right angle with the gate and fence; and the space between the inclined posts should be just enough to admit the rails D of the gate between. The hanging frame is firmly secured at the proper angle of inclinationv to the inner face of the main post A; and I usually connect it by sinking one of the inclined posts in a suitable groove in said main post, and secure it by spike-nails or bolts;

and it may be further stiffened by a stay, e, above where the two posts diverge.

The rails D of the gate are pivoted centrally to slats S,lin such manner that said slats will be parallel with the inclined posts to which the rails are jointed in every position of the gate, the rails, which increase in length upward, having their ends inserted between the inclined posts, and are there pivoted by a pivot-bolt through each. The upper rail, however, which I usually make deeper than the rest, has its outer end project beyond its pivot a distance nearly equal to the height of its pivot from the ground, and carries a counterbalance-weight, It, similar to those used in other gates of like kind.

F represents what I term a latching-elevator,7 because it not only is instrumental in elevating the gate, but latches it when it is lowered or shut, so that it cannot be lifted by animals trying towork through between the bottom rail and the ground. The latchingelevator is simply a-woodcn bar, one end of which is pivoted between the hanging-frame posts, near the top, the other end resting in a notch made in the top rail of the gate, as may be clearly seen at j. I usually furnish the latching-elevator with a short stud, f, braced in front, as seen, and provided with an eyebolt on each side, in which are hooked two rods, t', connecting it with the short inner ends of the two horizontal levers L, pivoted to the cross-bar C of the hanging frame.

The end bearing, in which the top rail of the gate works, may be formed by a pair of side straps, to one of which, as seen at m, an overhanging roller (not shown) can be hung to a pivot-stud, n, under the rail. The opposite strap can only lap past the rail enough to serve as a guide, for it must slide clear of the e'nds of the gate-slats.

The angle of inclination and height ot' thehanging frame are determined by the space necessary to admit the gate when folded, as seen in Fig. 2, and to permit the larger animals to pass freely under the projecting levers.

It will be readily seen that, when either of the levers L, in the positions shown in Fig. 1, is turned toward the shut gate, the latchingelevator will be first drawn out of the notch j,- and as it is further lifted or vibrated upward it will carry with it the gate, the roller traveling on the under edge of the top rail, and, the counter-balance being nicely adjusted, a slight impulsive shove or pull in passing will open or close the gate, which is done by the reverse motion. The operator, in a vehicle, may therefore throw open the gate without materially changing motion or actually stopping, and shut it after passing through by giving the requisite impulsive motion 'to the levers by'his hands..

Should the levers be in the way of bulky loads, they may be readily removed by iirst unhooking the rods i, and the gate operated by hand.

My arrangement consists of but few parts, simple and inexpensive. It is strong, as the weight of the gate is chieiiy thrown ,on the foot of the main post. It affords plenty of room for folding and a favorable action of counter-balance; and the rail ends, when folded, form aline of retreating angle, favoring the passage of bulky loads.

I do'not claim pivoting the rails and slats of a gate provided with a counter-balance so that said rails will close up when the gate is opened by moving in a vertical plane. Nor do I claim, irrespectively, operating such gate from a vehicle, &c., by means of levers or cords; but

What Ido claim as new and my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is this:

l. I claim the latchingelevator F and inclined hanging posts B, in combination with the main gate-post A, and pivoted rails D, and slats S of a counterbalanced gate, substantially as and for the purpose described,

2. I claim the arrangement and combination of the two horizontal levers L with the crossbar C of the inclined hanging frame B C,whe11 said levers are so connected with the latchingl elevator F as to be capable of actuating it in operating a pivoted folding gate from a vehicle or on horseback, substantially as set forth.

BENJIMAN F. FISK.

Witnesses:

ROBERT SAYLOR, Or'ro L. JoHNsoN. 

